CoatingsPro Interview Series

Cradle to Grave: How Holistic Thinking Helps Contractors

Kevin Kipp, co-owner of Hardig Industrial Services, joins our podcast to reflect on his award-winning career and share some lessons learned for others in the industry. Topics include the evolution of the coatings field and how having a holistic understanding can help contractors; the role of industry associations, trade publications, and social media in Hardig’s success; advice for the next generation of coatings professionals; and much more.

Key Takeaways at First AMPP Annual Conference + Expo

Lesley Martinez, manager of conferences at the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), shares her takeaways from the first AMPP Annual Conference + Expo.

Topics discussed on this episode include feedback, data, and lessons learned from the 2022 in-person event in San Antonio, Texas; information on the newly released virtual component; and key dates and highlights for the 2023 AMPP show in Denver, Colorado.

Robotics Trends in Protective Coatings Projects

In celebration of National Robotics Week, Robert Dahlstrom — founder and CEO of Apellix — joins us to discuss new trends in the aerial robotics market.

Topics on the podcast include recent developments in the industry and at Apellix; feedback from users in the field; workforce implications; and what the future looks like for using robotics across various phases of protective coatings projects.

KTA Leadership Looks Forward and Back

This “member profile” episode features Bill Corbett, chief operations officer at coatings and corrosion engineering and inspection firm KTA-Tator, Inc., and Pete Ault, incoming president.

As part of a new podcast with CoatingsPro Magazine, Corbett and Ault share insights on their time with the company and industry trends; perspectives on the merger of SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings and NACE International; and hopes for the future with the newly merged organization known as the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP).

Business Takes Flight for ‘Nonskid Guy’ Johnny Sanchez

Based in National City, Calif., just outside San Diego, Prime Time Coatings is a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) painting contractor whose owner and president, Johnny M. Sanchez, has helped provide coatings for the maritime sector since he was 19 years old. In 2017, he was the inaugural Contractor/Crew MVP winner of CoatingsPro’s Contractor Awards.

With nearly 30 years of valuable industry experience, Sanchez was recently awarded an assignment that he views as a “lifelong achievement” in the protective coatings industry: Working on an aircraft carrier flight deck for the U.S. Navy.

“It’s a big deal in the industry,” Sanchez said. “Not many companies have the background or capabilities to win such a contract. My career has come full circle, to be able to work on the Navy’s most important asset. This would not have been possible without NACE (International) and SSPC (The Society for Protective Coatings) courses throughout my career.”

To elaborate further on his success, as well as the role of industry associations in helping him achieve that, we welcome Sanchez to the CoatingsPro Interview Series.

Sherwin-Williams Uses Platform, Resources to Assist Contractors

Jay Whitaker, technical services specialist, and Paul Trautmann, project development manager, are two experienced team members at Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine who offer plenty of protective coatings industry connections — and association ones, to boot.

In this “member profile” interview, Whitaker and Trautmann share insights on their time with the company and industry trends; perspectives on the merger of SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings and NACE International; and hopes for the future with the newly merged organization known as the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP).

Addressing the Worker Shortage in Skilled Trades

Mike Chambers, owner of Chambers Painting in Sellersburg, Indiana, went viral in December after a chance encounter with Mike Rowe, host of Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs. In a Facebook post, Rowe relayed many of Chambers’ hiring challenges, as well as his creative ideas to address a growing shortage of craftworkers for skilled trades.

In a new conversation with CoatingsPro Magazine, Chambers shares how that memorable experience has brought his company a new wave of workers. As part of the interview, Chambers also explores recent industry trends and explains ways that both individual contractors and policymakers can potentially alleviate the worker shortage in the months and years ahead.

How Industry Associations and Unions Can Work Together

District Council 57 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT DC 57) is an organization of more than 2,500 members in Western Pennsylvania. Formed in 1997 as a council made of several local unions, its goal is to represent tradespeople in the region while helping them achieve careers with good wages, benefits, safety, and dignity in the workplace.

Andrew Croll, director of organizing at IUPAT DC 57, has found his affiliations with SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings and now AMPP quite helpful to both his career and the objectives of the union. In this podcast, Croll elaborates on the relationship and what the associations have meant to him and IUPAT over the years, and he also offers some thoughts on what the future may look like.

What the U.S. Infrastructure Bill Means for Corrosion Specialists

With the landmark U.S. infrastructure bill recently being signed into law, we discuss its implications for corrosion and coatings professionals with Adam L. Christopher, manager of government relations at the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), and Dan Adley, recently retired CEO of engineering consultancy KTA-Tator, Inc.

Topics include a legislative outline of the bill and insight into some of its major topics; what the infrastructure legislation means for the corrosion and coatings industries as a whole; what AMPP members can do to prepare themselves; and where people should go to find out more information about the bill and any opportunities.

AMPP’s Bob Chalker Sees Evolution, Growth in Coatings Industry

Bob Chalker, CEO of the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), recently joined our special 20th anniversary podcast series at CoatingsPro Magazine.

Topics include the magazine’s evolution over the years and its outlook moving forward; changes and trends in the coatings industry over his time with NACE International and AMPP; priorities for the newly merged association and how it can benefit coatings contractors; and much more. Tune in!